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FAMILIAR STUDIES OF WILD BIRDS
THE FEMALE PARKMAN’S WREN RETURNING TO THE NEST. CRAWLING
UP THE JAGGED TRUNK SHE WOULD SLIP BEHIND THE BARK ONTO HER
NEST, OFTEN WITHOUT A PAUSE
FAMILIAR STUDIES
OF WILD BIRDS
THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS
BONS WEEP IAN
WITH MANY PHOTOGRAPHS. . BY,
THE AUTHOR
BOSTON
RICHARD G. BADGER
THE GORHAM PRESS
Copyricut, 1920, sy Ricuarp G. BADGER
All Rights Reserved
Made in the United States of America
The Gorham Press, Boston, U.S. A.
A REMINDER
y QHE real haven of the naturalist is out
in the fields and woods of the country.
But for those city people, who do not
find the country within their immediate reach,
the city park offers a great deal more than
may be thought, in the way of material for
nature study.
On an early spring morning, the parks of
many of our large cities literally swarm with
migrating birds. A wide range of species, to
a hundred, or even more, may be counted on
a single morning, if one rises early and is
sharp-sighted. The observer must also have
a fair knowledge of the commoner species of
birds, or identify them by means of field glasses
and guide book.
Every true naturalist or bird lover counts
3
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
it more or less of an epoch in the spring, when
certain of the birds first appear. For instance,
the morning when he first sees a bluebird car-
ries a certain spring token which is cherished
keenly. Likewise with the first swallow,
meadowlark, ete. Each stirs its particular
feeling in the bird lover and has its special
meaning to him in the consummation of spring.
Whether he be in the country or city, the
same token will be brought to him, and spring
will not pass without imparting its message.
CONTENTS
A Faminy or Cepar WaxX-wWIncs
Tue Bronzep GRACKLE .
BroabD-TAILED Hummine Birps
BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS
PAaRKMAN’S WREN
THE Common TERN
YELLOW WARBLERS
A Faminy or TREE-SWALLOWS .
Tue Mournine Dove
THe Great Hornep Own
A Kinepirp Famiy .
NOTES FROM THE INDIANA SAND DUNES
PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS
40335
a
ilk
Vat
pial
) i 4) ha i
i ie i“
aN |
Linivet aig
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
THe FremMate PARKMAN’S WREN RETURNING
THOINTSTE NL) WT MCT ogre. Ue rane e ace
Between Pages
WaXWING CARRYING SEVERAL BERRIES IN
THROAT
WAXWING ABOUT TO REGURGITATE A BERRY .
A WAxXWING IN A GRACEFUL Pose .
A Waxwine Famity ap eee A
Five Youne Waxwincs Soon Arter LEAVING
THE NEstT Ba
Waxwincs AGAINST THE LIGHT
GRACKLE HomEwarp BouNnpD wiTtH A Morse.
A Mate BronzeD GRACKLE Pickine Up Foop
A FEMALE GRACKLE .
BRONZED GRACKLE SINGING Aa
Tue Broap-TarLtep Humminc-Birp on NEstT
Tue Nest or A Broap-TatteD Humminc-Birp
Humminc-Birp SHIELDING THE Ecos .
Newty HatcHep HuMMERS
Younc Hummers ELEVEN Days OLD .
THE ‘Mare BREWER INSPECTING THE NEsT .
FemMALeE Brewer Buack-Birp .
Brewer Buack-Birp RemMovine Foop From
Bint or YOUNG .
14-15
14-15
16-17
16-17
18-19
18-19
18-19
18-19
20-21
20-21
22-23
22-93
26-27
26-27
28-29
28-29
30-31
30-31
List of Illustrations
Between Pages
FreMALE PARKMAN’S WREN INVESTIGATING
NoIsE A NL MA Og
BarK REMOVED TO SHOW INCUBATING WREN
Tue Nest oF THE PARKMAN’s WREN WITH
Sree Neh Oi ue
Tue YounGc WRENS Soon Arter HAtcuHING .
A CHARACTERISTIC PosE OF THE PARKMAN’S
WREN .
Tern at Nest SU at Weae POA as
TreRN GRACEFULLY Fotpine Its Wines
A Trrn’s NEsT AT THE EDGE OF SALT-WATER
GRASS Pa) Ea ese Bins)
Tue Terns’ Nests ARE Merre DEPRESSIONS
Tern Posep TO SHOW THE GRACEFUL NECK .
A Youne TERN AT THE STAGE WHEN THEY
Learn TO FLy ON fo a a A
A Trrn’s NEST IN THE SEAWEED WITH Eccs .
Younc TERNS ARE Goop EXAMPLES OF PRO-
TECTIVE COLORING SU er eae
Youne TERNS Squattinc AMONG THE Rocks
TERN SWIMMING IN THE WATER Dee
Terns Restine anp Fiyine apout Rocks .
YELLOW WarBLER ENTERING NEST
Nest or WARBLER ABOUT Two FEET FROM THE
GROUND
32-33
32-33
34-35
34-35
36-37
36-37
38-39
38-39
40-41
40-41
42-43
42-43
44—45
44—45
46-47
46-47
48-49
48-49
List of Illustrations
Between Pages
YELLOW WARBLER ON NEST :
Youna WarBLeERS Eieut Days OLD .
Buss Wittows ALonG A WINDING CREEK .
TREES TO WHICH CAMERA Was CLAMPED
SwaLLow RETURNING TO THE NEST
YoOuNG SWALLOW WITHIN HoLE BEGGING FOR
Foop
Youne SwALLows 4 RNS
Back View oF YouNG SwWALLOws
SwaLLow CLEANING THE NEsT
THREE YOUNG SWALLOWS AND AN ADULT
FLYING
Mournine Dove on NEst oN A Stopine Loe
Mournine Dove’s NEst IN THE SHOOTS .
Youne Mournine Dove EPedh ees A:
Tue Great Hornep Owt Leavine Its Nest
Youne Owns asout TEN Days OLp
Youne Hornep Ow1is asout Two Weeks OLp
Youne Ow1us at THREE WEEKS
Youne Owns at Four WEExKs Svea
Kinesirp THRustTInG Foop Down Turoat or
Hunery Youne
Kunepirp FEEDING YOUNG . Avs HS RPE ad
ParENtT Kinesirp TuHrRusts Foop Down
FORCEFULLY .
50-51
50-51
52-53
52-53
54-55
54-55
56-57
56-57
58-59
58-59
60-61
60-61
62-63
62-63
64-65
64-65
66-67
66-67
68-69
68-69
70-71
List of Illustrations
Between Pages
AFTER FEEDING THE YOUNG, PARENT KINGBIRD
Wires Its Break
KincpirD Reapy To LEAVE
YounG KINGBIRDS : ;
A Goop PorTRAIT OF AN es ents
Tue CATBIRD .
A Youne Woop THRUSH J UST ee pene
THE NEST
WESTERN CHIPPING Sues Baers NEST
WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW SETTLING ON
NEST AOA Ny
Nest or Least FLYCATCHER
Least FiycatcHER SHOWING FEATHERS ON
THE HeEapD
Least FrycatcHer AT NEsT
Youne MarsH Hawks .
A Brown THRASHER
THe Macpir
10
70-71
12-13
72-13
74-15
74-75
78-79
80-81
80-81
82-83
82-83
82-83
82-83
84-85
84-85
FAMILIAR STUDIES OF WILD BIRDS
{ as "en
lai LIBRARY)
\Z hte | rd
FAMILIAR STUDIES
OF WILD BIRDS
A FAMILY OF CEDAR WAX-WINGS
(Ampelis cedrorum)
N a tramp in the country early in
() May one may come on a flock of pret-
ty little cedar wax-wings, engaged in
picking the buds from wayside trees and
bushes. An incessant chorus of low plaintive
notes coming from several hundred of these
dainty brown birds frequently attracts one’s
attention before he has noticed the flock. Al-
though rather shy, the birds may be ap-
proached close enough to distinguish with
the naked eye the delicate shading of their
soft brown feathers, the tapering crests, the
13
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
yellow band terminating the tail, and the small
red globular structures on the wings (and
very rarely on the tail) , from which this species
derives its name.
Several weeks later, these migrating flocks
have separated into pairs, but it is often
well along in the season before the birds
build their nests, for the berries and fruit on
which the young thrive ripen late. During
the summer the food of the wax-wings consists
of fruit, cherries, and all kinds of wild berries.
After the young are old enough to be left
alone, both adults go off together in their
search for food, often making trips of several
miles. Whether in the air or at rest, they have
the habit of uttering, continually, low calls, that
are expressive of companionability. They
are seldom absent more than ten or fifteen
minutes at a time, and when they are heard
returning, the young set up a complementary
chorus; but the latter always remain discreet-
14
a
4 A
ira
i
WAXWINGS CARRY SEVERAL BERRIES IN THEIR THROATS IN ADDITION
TO ONE OR MORE IN THEIR BEAKS. ONE BERRY BEING FED TO THE
YOUNG, ANOTHER MIRACULOUSLY APPEARS
WAXWING ABOUT TO REGURGITATE A BERRY
at
AN
bitty My)
ie,
He
rie
‘
-
A Family of Cedar Wax-Wings
ly silent while the old birds are away. Occa-
sionally, mistaking a bird that flits by for one
of their parents, the young start begging for
food, but quickly appreciate their mistake and
subside.
The old wax-wings, returning from forag-
ing, usually carry several berries in the crop,
in addition to one in the beak. When a rasp-
berry is stuffed down a gaping beak, behold,
another one appears, and is held a moment
tentatively before being fed to the next in
turn of the progeny. No amount of stuffing
satisfies the hungry youngsters, which, flap-
ping their wings, beg in the beseeching way
natural to young birds.
The near presence of an unobtrusive visitor
does not deter cedar wax-wings from proceed-
ing with their home duties. After the first
day which was necessarily spent gaining the
acquaintance of the present family, many sat-
isfactory photographs were secured without
15
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
serious difficulty. The old birds would now
and then fly around the camera to inspect this
strange instrument, and several times alighted
on it without fear. At other times they sailed
back for a good look at me, where I lay about
twenty feet distant, partly concealed in the
tall grass, with thread in hand, ready to release
the shutter.
It should not be concluded that because
cedar wax-wings are relatively tame as com-
pared with some other species that the securing
of satisfactory photographs of them does not
involve skill and perseverance. As anyone who
has attempted to photograph wild birds
knows, there are many factors influencing suc-
cess, and one must always be prepared to be
patient, and spend as much time as necessary
in gaining the confidence of his subjects.
16
A WAXWING IN A GRACEFUL POSE
THE WAXWING FAMILY MINUS ONE OF THE YOUNG, WHICH REFUSED
TO REMAIN ON THE PERCH
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THE BRONZED GRACKLE
(Quiscalus quiscula eneus)
if | \HE bronzed grackles are, on close
acquaintance, more interesting birds
than their dull plumage and unmusi-
cal calls might, perhaps, at first incline the
casual observer to expect. These birds and
their eastern cousins, the purple grackles,
arrive north in large flocks early in spring, but
they generally spend several weeks enjoying
themselves in idleness before settling down to
the serious task of raising a family. They nest
in small colonies, frequently near water, usual-
ly placing their nests high in trees; but the
writer has also found them in bushes, as well
as slung like the red-wings’ nests, a foot or
two above water.
The accompanying photographs were taken
i,
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
at a nesting site near a small lake, many of the
nests being scattered on small islands, where
they were free from molestation. As the
grackles walked along the water’s edge with
their peculiarly ludicrous strides, they pre-
sented with their glassy yellow eyes a striking
appearance. Frequently they submerge their
entire foreparts in efforts to secure choice
morsels, and on certain rare occasions I have
seen them dive from the air into the water for
shiners as do terns, rising to shake the mois-
ture from their feathers with as little concern
as do the real divers. But the grackles also
obtain much of their food in the underbrush
and on the meadows.
The males sing repeatedly the few notes
of their not unpleasing song, accompanying
this with the ruffling of feathers and the
spreading of tails, and they often follow the
females, uttering this song, which is appar-
ently characteristic of the mating season.
18
THE FIVE YOUNG WAXWINGS SOON AFTER LEAVING THE NEST
fpr eesti tk ce cose a
WAXWINGS AGAINST THE LIGHT
HOMEWARD BOUND WITH A MORSEL FOR BABY GRACKLES
A MALE BRONZED GRACKLE PICKING UP FOOD AT THE WATER’S EDGE.
HIS WEDGE-SHAPED TAIL EASILY DISTINGUISHES HIM FROM THE FE-
MALE
The Bronzed Grackle
While he accompanies his mate as she collects
dry grass and other materials for her nest, the
male, without lending active assistance, ap-
pears to act merely the rédle of protector, be-
ing coaxed by the plaintive little calls of his
partner to remain near at hand. Yet later he
enters strenuously into the task of feeding the
young. Being very active the female soon
has her nest completed and entrusted with four
or five brownish spotted eggs.
19
BROAD-TAILED HUMMING BIRDS
(Selasphorus platycercus)
elevation of eight thousand feet, is situ-
ated about one hundred miles east of
Salt Lake City. An artificial lake five or six
miles long, covering the greater part of the
valley, serves as a reservoir for irrigation be-
low in Utah Valley. The region has re-
cently been made a bird reservation, and the
lake is now the home of many ducks and shore
birds, while back in the timber on the hills
bordering the valley, song birds of all kinds
thrive in abundance.
In this region so interesting to the bird stu-
dent, humming birds are conspicuous, both by
their numbers and their loud metallic buzzing,
which pervades all the small cafions and imme-
G eesti ot it VALLEY, at an
20
THE FEMALE GRACKLE IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER AND LACKS THE WEDGE-
SHAPED TAIL OF THE MALE
BRONZED GRACKLE SINGING. THE FEW NOTES OF THE SONG ARE AC-
COMPANIED BY THE RUFFLING OF THE FEATHERS ON THE BACK, AND
A SLIGHT SPREADING OF THE WINGS
A 7 '
nd
’'
Broad-Tailed Humming Birds
diately arrests attention. Along the willow-
bordered creeks that extend up every cafion
the broad-tailed humming birds gather in full
force. The sound of their buzzing often
swells to a volume, that one would not believe
any number of such wee birds capable of pro-
ducing, unless one had heard it. As a bird
shoots up or down the creek bed, the buzzing of
its wings swells and sinks in a rhythmic beat,
a beat, perhaps, to the second, which may be
heard for some distance, getting louder as the
bird approaches, and then gradually dying
down as it continues up or down the cafion.
This loud buzzing is an interesting habit of the
hummers, being very expressive of their ex-
uberance of spirits; for they seem to be ever
revelling in the joy of living. Lacking a
song, their special appeal lies in their dainty
smallness, vivaciousness, and an overflowing
exuberance of nature.
About the twentieth of June, the nesting
21
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
season of the hummers starts in full earnest.
Of the six nests I found in the valley, four
were less than three feet from the ground on
pine boughs, one about six feet up, and one
twenty feet up on the dead limb of an ash tree.
Two of these nests were found about half com-
pleted on June 19th, which appears to be
about the beginning of the nesting season.
Two other nests were found soon after this,
partly completed, so that it seems that all the
birds start nesting at nearly the same time.
The willow down of which the nests are con-
structed is available about the middle of June.
It is a cotton-like substance shed after the wil-
lows have flowered, which readily sticks to a
rough bark surface. The beginning of the
nest is as ethereal as a spider web, and it is
built up very gradually, the bird sitting on the
bough and twisting and turning as she models
the delicate architecture of her home. Com-
pleted, it is the supreme example of bird skill
22
THE BROAD-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD ON NEST
THE NEST OF THE BROAD-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD IN A BALSAM. IT IS
SECURED ON A BRANCH, AND ALSO STRENGTHENED WITH SPIDER-WEB
Maa Pie SORA ys =
tad wt i f 4 oie: ae ais a os
at Megetieme mi a ae ;
is sag ae oe ie’ oa V5)
Broad-Taled Humming Birds
in nest making. One of the birds observed at
work would vanish and reappear with more
down, often within three or four seconds. On
the outside, the nest is strengthened by the
interweaving of small particles of bark. It
may be mentioned that one nest was found by
following a hummer that was observed col-
lecting bark from a dead ash tree.
Within three days, the female with no help
from the male has completed her nest. Hither
on the third or fourth day after starting to
build, she lays the first of her two translucent
white eggs which are about the size of a com-
mon bean; and begins sitting at once. The
following day the second egg is laid, and then
for fifteen long days, one would suppose ex-
ceedingly long to such a restless little mite,
she incubates her treasures. It is to be re-
marked, however, that she does not remain on
the nest as continuously as do many other
birds, but leaves frequently during the day to
23
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
seek food, though she is absent but a few sec-
onds at a time. This habit may be due to
the bird’s restlessly active nature. Because of
the small size of the eggs, also, she can leave
them exposed for only short intervals or they
would become chilled. ‘Toward the end of
the incubation period, the eggs turn from their
original translucent whiteness to a dark shade,
the air sac now filling one third of the space.
After trying for fifteen days to imagine the
appearance of the bird that would come out of
so small an egg, I was considerably surprised,
to say the least, when a newly hatched hummer
was finally disclosed to view. The young
humming bird is black with a few yellow hairs
sticking up from the center of its back. Its
eyes, of course, are closed, and its bill instead
of being long and slender like the adults’, is
of the short and stubby shape of a sparrow’s.
The respiration is very rapid, perhaps three
hundred to the minute. The development of
24
Broad-Tailed Humming Birds
the young birds is very interesting. It is sev-
eral days before pin-feathers appear, and the
bill lengthens very slowly. At the age of
twelve days, the eyes are opened now and then
for a few seconds only, being as yet very weak.
About this time, when young yellow warblers
would already have left the nest, the hummers
are still in the pin-feather stage, and the bill
has become about half adult length. Not un-
til they are nearly three weeks old, do the
young begin to look like real humming birds.
Although my observations did not continue
until the young left the nest, I judge from
their rate of growth, that their bills do not be-
come adult length at much less than four
weeks from the time of hatching.
The entire work of building the nest, incu-
bating, and raising the young falls on the in-
dustrious little female. Never once did I see
a male around any of the nests visited. The
mother hummer frequently feeds her offspring
25
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
while hovering at the edge of the nest, or
again she may alight, and with quick dabs of
her beak thrust food into the throats of her
progeny. The diet of humming birds regu-
larly consists of honey and insects gathered
from flowers, but they are also very fond of
sap. At a place on one of the roads where
vehicles had scraped bark from some bush-wil-
lows causing sap to flow, I found numerous
hummers gathered to drink as it collected.
Among the many interesting characteristics
of the broad-tailed humming birds, a habit that
I witnessed frequently was that of darting
perpendicularly upward to a height of fifty
or one hundred feet, and then shooting down
at great speed, producing a loud buzzing
which reached a climax as the bird swerved
when five or six feet from the ground. As
far as could be observed, this performance was
indulged in for the benefit of another hummer.
Its purpose I was unable to discover, if it had
26
me
?
rid
=
HUMMING-BIRD SHIELDING THE EGGS FROM THE SUN
THE NEWLY HATCHED HUMMERS ARE BLACKISH, WITH A FEW
YELLOW HAIRS ON THE BACK, AND HAVE SHORT STUBBY BEAKS
Ore « Fes
J ae his if ef ; r
5's ~ 4): me, 4 ane » } SOAS A ry
Sear D the HTN hae
Oe ew jan
; rob s
Es
We Sgr ot
Eh Ee
i PE
An Phy
ay Wy a
‘
AT wre
4 iy
Broad-Tailed Humming Birds
one other than that of venting a burst of ex-
uberant spirits. Exuberance is one of the
most applicable adjectives in describing these
winged bullets, as in their every action appears
an overflowing of energy and vitality. Each
movement is so lightning-like in quickness, and
the bird has such remarkable control of itself,
that the longer one watches, the more one
marvels. What other bird can fly forward or
backward with equal ease, or rise in a vertical
line as if shot upward from a gun? It starts
and stops so quickly that it swings forward or
backward as if it were a pendulum. One won-
ders whether any bird can fly so fast, and cer-
tainly none can attain momentum so quickly.
Hummers are very sensitive, and when
watched they grow agitated and fretful, leav-
ing the nest repeatedly. Their low peeping
expresses much annoyance as they dart nerv-
ously here and there. They will spend con-
siderable time inspecting a camera that is
27
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
placed near the nest, hovering around to ob-
serve it from every angle. Apparently the
hummer has a bump of curiosity, for when you
meet one, it usually spends some time osten-
sibly seeking honey from the flowers nearest
you, while actually it is regarding you very
attentively. They have no song, but their
peeping notes are very expressive, being now
low and contented as when searching the
flowers, or again louder and complaining,
when they are intruded on. Occasionally a
hummer takes a perch on the tiptop of a tree,
sitting there with the majesty of a king. Ap-
parently they are not molested by other birds,
doubtless for the good reason that they are
courageous little fighters. I have seen a hum-
mer chase a bird as large as a woodthrush
in a way to leave no doubt of the former’s
supremacy.
28
YOUNG HUMMERS ELEVEN DAYS OLD; PIN-FEATHER STAGE
THE MALE BREWER INSPECTING THE NEST
BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS
(Scolecophagus cyanocephalus )
good numbers in Strawberry Valley in
the Wasatch Mountains. The male
Brewer is a shiny black, with a purplish sheen
on the head; the female brownish, more or less
streaked. The calls and song of this species
resemble those of the bronzed grackles, though
lower and less forceful. While the male
Brewer does not have the wedge-shaped tail
and the female grackle is darker, in other re-
spects, including their habits, the two species
are much alike.
As I was walking around the south end of
Strawberry Valley one afternoon early in
June, I noticed a number of Brewer’s black-
birds near the shore. As I approached, they
9 it we BLACKBIRDS nest in
29
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
let me know with unmistakable vehemence
that I was trespassmg. From a good view-
point on a knoll, I had soon located a nest in
the sagebrush. Later I found several of their
nests tucked low down among the thickly
growing willows along a near-by creek. The
nest in the sagebrush proved to have five
young about four days old, and, setting up
the camera, I prepared to spend the afternoon
there. My presence ten yards from their nest
was too close to suit the much disturbed birds.
For an hour or so, they circled round me,
scolding vociferously. But finally the male
got up courage to approach and feed the
young, and during the afternoon he fed them
several times, while his shyer mate remained
around complaining, without making a single
trip away or visiting the nest. She did, how-
ever, dart up constantly after flies until she
had gathered such a billful, that it was a puz-
zle, indeed, to see how she could hold those in
30
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THE FEMALE BREWER BLACKBIRD, WITH A BILL FULL OF FLIES,
OBSERVING THE YOUNG ATTENTIVELY BEFORE FEEDING THEM
IF THE FOOD THRUST INTO THE BEAK OF A YOUNG BIRD IS NOT
SWALLOWED IMMEDIATELY, IT IS REMOVED AND OFFERED TO AN-
OTHER
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Brewer's Blackbirds
her bill while catching others, and at the same
time continue to scold. At last, late in the
afternoon, she made one hasty visit to the nest
and disposed of her accumulated supplies. In
removing the excreta, the male was once or
twice observed to light on a distant perch,
there drop his burden, and carefully wipe his
beak.
I made these birds another call the following
morning, and by noon both were sufficiently
accustomed to the camera to come and go with
little hesitation. They seemed to find an
abundance of food down by the creek, but
often searched for grubs and insects in the
sagebrush near by, and also made an occa-
sional long trip over the hills. The food se-
cured in different places no doubt met the need
of a varied diet. The male was the really
industrious one of the two, probably because
my presence disturbed him less. Sailing down
to the creek on gracefully curved pinions, he
31
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
was always back within two or three minutes
with a white grub or worm, which he sometimes
thrust into all five gaping mouths, until he
found a recipient hungry enough to swallow it
immediately.
I always attempted to change films while
the birds were away, but being still distrustful
of me they would often hurry back prema-
turely. If they found me quietly seated, after
circling around, they would leave; but if they
caught me in the act a disturbance ensued.
Neighboring birds joined in and all voiced
loudly their fears of an impending calamity.
After young Brewers leave the nest, they
follow the adults around for weeks. It is a
curious sight to watch these overgrown young-
sters begging as they trail at an awkward gait
after their parents, which striding proudly on,
reward the young occasionally with a worm
or an insect.
32
WHEN THE TREE WAS SCRAPED WITH A LONG STICK THE WREN WOULD
HOP OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS UP
%,
THE BARK REMOVED TO SHOW THE INCUBATING WREN
PARKMANS WREN
(Salpinctes obsoletus)
| P in the Wasatch Mountains of
Northern Utah, an interesting little
bird, the rock wren, makes its summer
home. During one season spent in studying
the birds of this region, I was fortunate
enough to become well acquainted with this
sociable littlke member of the wren tribe, for
which I developed a friendship that gave me
much pleasure. I discovered seven or eight
of their nests, and my observations of their
home life included many instructive glimpses
of social relations among the birds that af-
forded a rare insight, indeed, into bird nature.
The rock wren starts nesting early in June.
The nests are frequently located behind the
shaggy bark of ash trees, but in some cases
33
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
the old holes of sapsuckers are selected as nest-
ing sites. Their nests are usually to be de-
tected by a bunch of twigs sticking out from
behind the bark, where they are situated. —
Also, if one passes within four or five feet of
the tree the female generally slips out, thus
disclosing her secret, if it has not already been
revealed by the protruding twigs. The twigs
forming the foundation of the nest are as large
as one would expect so small a bird to be able
to lift. The nest lining is composed largely of
hair, feathers, fine grasses, particles of bark,
with sometimes a little wool and willow down
included. In one instance, I found a piece of
cast-off snake skin. The crested fly-catcher
has the habit of regularly placing an old
snake skin in its nest, but with the rock
wren this cannot be a universal trait, as only in
a single instance was this material found.
These small wrens courageously undertake
a load that, without knowing of their active,
34
THE NEST OF THE PARKMAN’S WREN WITH ITS COMPLIMENT OF SIX
‘EGGS. THE NESTS ARE EASILY DISCOVERED BY THE TWIGS STICKING OUT
THE NEST OF THE PARKMAN’S WREN WITH ITS COMPLEMENT OF SIX
AFTER HATCHING
THE YOUNG WRENS SOON
my \
ae
Parkmans Wren
business-like nature, one would believe would
weigh heavily on them. Their eggs, at least
six in number, are white, spotted with brown.
The male is in every way an exemplary hus-
band. From a perch nearby he cheers his sit-
ting mate with frequent melodious songs, and
occasionally brings food to her. At one wren
home where I was a frequent visitor, the male,
though according to wren custom he did not
take part in incubating, yet felt great respon-
sibility in regard to seeing that the eggs were
well cared for. The female quickly grew ac-
customed to me and the camera, so that with
the latter placed two feet from the entrance to
her home she would return to her duties with-
out hesitation. Her movements were so ac-
tive, however, that securing the desired poses
of her proved difficult. For this purpose I
employed the stratagem of scraping the tree
with a long stick, which would cause her to hop
out to see what was up, without alarming or
35
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
driving her away. After having been dis-
turbed a good many times, however, she would
grow tired of this game and leave. Almost
immediately the male would appear, pouring
forth one of his harmonious strains. Before
he had repeated it many times, his conscience-
stricken mate would usually come hopping
submissively back, take a few sly peeps at me,
and resume her duties of incubation. Once
or twice when her patience was tried to the
extreme, causing her to remain absent unusu-
ally long, the male became particularly agi-
tated, and attempted to drive his reluctant
mate back by darting at her, while continuing
at the same time to sing in a beseeching strain.
She was not long in obeying, and then with a
few final notes of music as if to impress on
her the urgency of staying at home, he de-
parted. Any description of a bird’s song is
unsatisfactory, but it may be mentioned that
the song of the rock wren begins somewhat
36
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A CHARACTERISTIC POSE OF A PARKMAN’S WREN
TERN AT NEST. ON ALIGHTING, THEIR WINGS ARE HELD EX-
TENDED FOR A MOMENT
Parkmans Wren
like that of the song sparrow, runs along in a
peculiarly sweet strain, with a line or two of
chatter occasionally inserted, ending with a
drop in the scale, expressive of “I told you so.”
When I removed the bark in order to photo-
graph the eggs as well as the sitting bird, she
hopped nervously around inspecting the
changed aspect of her home, crawling repeat-
edly behind the slab of bark (which was merely
swung to one side), as if expecting to find her
nest behind it as before. She plainly could
not understand what had happened, and when
she finally hopped into her now exposed nest,
not finding the situation to her liking, she
twisted around so vigorously that she shoved
four of the six eggs out onto the ground, two
of them breaking. None of the set hatched,
probably because I had unfortunately exposed
them too long to the sun. The female, urged
without doubt by her persistent mate, contin-
ued to sit, to my knowledge, for more than
37
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
three weeks, and was still on the nest the last
time I saw her.
While the male above referred to was so
conscientious, inspiring such confidence and
obedience in his mate, he was more wary than
she of the camera. On one occasion, bringing
a choice morsel for her, he sat at a distance
and sang enticingly, too shy to approach, until
she, unable longer to restrain herself, started to
go to him; but, changing her mind, she hopped
back. Another pair of wrens more cautious
than these, would crawl up the opposite side of
the tree, peeping out at me from behind it,
then inspect several other holes before even-
tually entering their own.
When the young hatch, the male turns his
attention from singing to the more important
task of feeding the family. Unless familiar
with their visitor, the wrens are very wary of
approaching the nest. I found it necessary
to conceal myself in the bushes when I wished
38
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TERN GRACEFULLY FOLDING ITS WINGS
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A TERN’S NEST AT THE EDGE OF SALT-WATER GRASS
Parkmans Wren
to observe, without disturbing a certain pair of
birds. The female brooded the young almost
continually the first two days, the male being
busily engaged bringing food. Sticking his
head into the nest hole, he handed the supplies
over to his mate, and quickly departed, being
at great pains to be inconspicuous. Later,
both wrens were continually on the go in the
effort to satisfy their hungry family of six.
In meeting as they passed to and fro, they
shook their wings in a comradely way, pecu-
liarly expressive of a mutual understanding
of the important and serious task they had
before them. When the young were six or
seven days old, they began giving voice to their
hunger by peeping vigorously, though not so
persistently as young sapsuckers, for they sub-
sided after being fed until another meal was
forthcoming.
One nest I knew of was used by the parents
for sleeping quarters after the young had
39
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
flown, for one morning as I passed just before
sunrise I saw the pair sitting together in the
early dawn in the entrance of their hole, evi-
dently waiting for more light before venturing
out. In the fall when the young are well de-
veloped, the wrens wander around in small
groups. Itis truly a treat to have such bright-
eyed, lively little visitors come around one’s
camp, chipping companionably as they flit
actively from branch to branch, even though
they stop but a few moments in passing. It
is during the nesting season, however, that the
males indulge in their real powers of song,
and once having heard one peal forth his melo-
dies, answered occasionally by appreciative
chirps from his mate on the nest, one cannot
soon forget this friendly rock wren.
40
; Awl
. ae a
,
THE TERNS’ NESTS ARE MERE DEPRESSIONS IN THE SAND, SOME-
TIMES LINED WITH A FEW GRASSES$ OR THEY MAY BE PLACED ON
SEAWEED, OR OCCASIONALLY BACK IN THE COARSE ISLAND GRASS
NOTE THE GRACEFUL NECK OF THE TERN
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THE COMMON TERN
(Sterna hirundo)
7 | QHE common tern is one of the most
graceful birds that adorn our coasts.
At one time it was fast going in the
path of the passenger pigeon and trumpeter
swan, but thanks to timely laws for its protec-
tion, it is now steadily increasing in numbers.
The terns congregate at their favorite nesting
sites, certain small islands along the coast, and
a few isolated interior points, about the middle
of June, the nesting season extending thence
to the middle of August.
Numerous visits I made to one of these sites,
known as the Wee Pecket Islands, in Buz-
zards Bay, furnished many captivating hours
spent in observing the active colony life of the
terns. As one approached the island, the
41
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
terns, rising in swarms from the beach and
outlying rocks, hovered overhead, their pro-
testing voices swelling to a volume that could
be heard far off. Their nests, simply depres-
sions in the sand, sometimes lined with grass or
seaweed, are placed along the beach above high-
water mark, a few also being scattered inland;
and so thickly are they strewn at points, that
it is necessary to walk with care to avoid tread-
ing on the eggs or young. ‘Two, three, or
rarely four, profusely spotted eggs are
laid. For a few days the adults brood the
newly hatched young, shielding them during
the day from the hot rays of the sun. There-
after the young terns wander about, seeking
the shade of rocks during midday. As one
walks along the shore, they squat down flat,
quite aware of the fact that their protective
coloring blends almost indistinguishably with
the rocks, or they take to the water, for they
are perfect swimmers from the start. From
42
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ee -_
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r we,
Bea } i
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or _—
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A YOUNG TERN AT THE STAGE WHEN THEY LEARN TO FLY
A TERN’S NEST IN THE SEAWEED. EGGS HATCHING
‘ ‘eat -
2. teen pe bas ime
oe
The Common Tern
the downy little balls a few days old to those
able to fly, these precocious youngsters wander
around everywhere, and the first question of
the visitor is, “How can the old terns find their
own progeny amid such swarms of young
birds?”
After one has remained quietly seated for
a time, the colony life continues in its usual
way. The birds soon alight, covering the
beaches and rocks. Occasionally small flocks
rest on the surface a short distance from shore.
It is an interesting fact that only near their
nesting sites do terns rest on the water. Sud-
denly, all the birds will take wing in mass, fly
out over the ocean, circle around and presently
return to land. This performance is repeated
often and without apparent cause. ‘Terns
travel many miles in search of fish. Some are
constantly starting off empty-billed, others
returning, each with a shiner, sand ell, or other
small fry in its beak. Against the wind they
43
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
fly low; with it, high. The food is either fed
to the young, or laid down for them to pick up.
An adult will sometimes coax a young tern
that is near you to what it considers a safer
location by walking backward with a fish in
its bill, keeping just out of reach of its hungry
pursuer.
When one has watched their graceful turns
and darts as they plunge into the ocean, it is
realized what an important element the terns
are in any seaside landscape.
44,
THE YOUNG TERNS FURNISH A FINE EXAMPLE OF PROTECTIVE COLORING
WHEN ALARMED THE TERN SQUATS AMONG THE ROCKS, WHERE IT IS
EASILY OVERLOOKED
YELLOW WARBLERS
(Dendroica estiva)
HE summer range of the yellow
warbler, or wild canary as this pretty
songster is popularly known, extends
from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, ascend-
ing in the Wasatch Mountains, where the ac-
companying photographs were taken, to an
elevation probably considerably over eight
thousand feet. Having travelled two thousand
miles or more from our Eastern home, here we
have the delight of meeting this bright yellow
friend of ours, with his duller mate, slightly
streaked on the breast with orange. At these
high altitudes, the warblers usually start nest-
ing about the middle of June. I found them
building in general in the willows along the
45
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
streams at an average height of six feet, but
also found one nest in a hillside bush. Their
nests are well constructed of bark shreds, lined
with fine grasses, willow down, wool, hair, and
feathers. ‘The heavy storms that occur every
few days in this region are doubtless responsi-
ble for a good deal of damage, and several of
the nests I found were probably thus destroyed.
The eggs are white, spotted with brown more
profusely around the larger ends, always four
to the set.
I located the first nest on June 18th, and
had no trouble in photographing the female,
as she returned within a few minutes after I
had set up the camera. She was so tame that
when I touched her nest she came within a
foot of my hand. She would tilt forward with
drooping wings, feigning to fall, then catch
herself as she dropped to another perch lower
down. ‘Thus did she do her best to lead me
away from her treasures. At no other nest
46
GOOD SWIMMERS, THE TERNS OFTEN TAKE TO THE WATER WHEN
APPROACHED
TERNS RESTING ON AND FLYING ABOUT ROCKS OFF THEIR NESTING SITE
a ‘ ar ee «
= - - > . ~~, * ! j
= - - oo - = 9 EP a -
= - Ne kg aa ee - °
¥ + es
Yellow Warblers
did I find a warbler as free from fear as this
one.
Another nest, which I found on June 20th,
contained one egg; the second egg was laid
the following day, then a day was skipped, the
two last eggs being laid on the two days fol-
lowing. The bird did not begin sitting until
the set was complete. (I felt fairly certain
with regard to the time of laying the eggs,
though I did not visit the nest on the fifth
day.)
When one is in the vicinity of a nest he is
soon made aware of the fact by the distressed
peeping of the warblers. ‘The male always
seems to be on hand, and one will frequently
hear him singing in the bushes near by. As
far as observed, he does not assist in incubat-
ing; but as soon as the young hatch, he be-
comes as active as his mate in procuring food.
During the first few days, in fact, she is en-
gaged in brooding, while he does all the for-
AT
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
aging. So rapidly do the young warblers
mature that in seven days they are fairly well
feathered. When the young in the hillside
bush were eight days old, I decided to photo-
graph them; but no sooner had I touched the
nest than all four youngsters hopped out, and
fluttered in as many directions. Two days
later they could fly well.
48
NEST
YELLOW WARBLER ENTERING
NEST OF WARBLER ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THE GROUND IN A BUSH
A FAMILY OF TREE SWALLOWS
(Iridoprocne bicolor)
HE tree swallow is one of the many
birds that nest at high altitude in the
Wasatch Mountains. The favorite
nesting places of these square-tailed gleaners
of the air are old sapsuckers’ holes, and in
suitable clusters of mountain ash trees, they
often nest in colonies of several dozen pairs.
The situation of their nests puts a difficulty
in the way of photographing them. I found,
however, a nest in an ash that was close to an-
other ash; the accompanying picture explains
the method by which photographs were se-
cured. Cross pieces nailed one above the
other furnished a ladder up the unoccupied
tree, and a slab nailed at the proper height
pointing directly at the nest hole served as a
49
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
support for the camera, which was clamped
on with a universal clamp. Although this did
not bring the lens so close to its object as
could have been desired, the arrangement was
otherwise very convenient.
This pair of swallows showed practically no
fear of the camera, and while I snapped most
of the pictures from below (using a thread),
they would come and go when I was up chang-
ing films. The old birds were carrying in
food when this nest was discovered about June
24th. After it had fed the young, each bird
remained impatiently waiting in the entrance
during the three or four-minutes that usually
elapsed before the arrival of its mate. The
bird waiting always greeted its returning mate
with a twittering welcome, and then soared
forth immediately into the sky. The above
precaution may have been for the purpose of
guarding the newly-hatched young against the ©
inroads of thieving sapsuckers.
50
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PL
YELLOW WARBLER ON NEST, PANTING FROM THE HEAT OF THE SUN
YOUNG WARBLERS EIGHT DAYS OLD
aah
; . a wae ee a es
as = a. Ps
A Family of Tree Swallows
About ten days after the discovery of the
nest the first signs of life were heard from
within the hole, and a few days later the young
swallows appeared at the entrance looking in-
terestedly out at the world. As their doorway
was only large enough to hold one at a time,
there was a continual struggle for this point of
vantage. ‘The young must now have been be-
tween two and three weeks old, judging from
the time the nest was found, and the old birds
no longer guarded the entrance. They usually
pushed the eager young back before feeding
them. They had grown very irritable for
some reason, perhaps from having to hurry so
strenuously for a livelihood, for they fought
each other off when meeting at the nest, and
once inside one frequently sat there malig-
nantly preventing its mate from entering.
Three weeks after discovering the nest, I en-
larged the entrance in order to remove and
photograph the young swallows. I was not
51
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
surprised when the first of the three young in
this brood, slipping through my fingers, soared
away as if it had flown for many a month.
But my patience was severely tried before I
succeeded in inducing the remaining two to
sit still long enough to be photographed. Just
as they were well placed the irate parents,
darting down with sonorous whirring of wings,
would set them off into another paroxysm of
activity. Once having seen the outside world,
they refused thereafter to remain in their
former home; but their chirps in the tree-tops
during following days were evidence that they
did not immediately leave the vicinity.
52
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IN THE FOREGROUND THE BUSH WILLOWS ARE SEEN FOLLOWING A
WINDING CREEK. BEYOND ARE THE ASPEN TREES IN WHICH THE TREE
SWALLOWS, PARKMAN’S WRENS, AND MANY OTHER BIRDS NEST. WITHIN
A HUNDRED YARDS OR SO INCLUDED IN THIS PICTURE WERE THE NESTS
OF A YELLOW WARBLER, A HUMMING-BIRD, AND NUMEROUS SAP-
SUCKERS AND TREE SWALLOWS
A SERIES OF CROSS PIECES FORMED A LADDER UP TO THE SLAB ON
WHICH THE CAMERA WAS CLAMPED. THIS BROUGHT THE INSTRU-
MENT WITHIN ABOUT SIX FEET OF THE HOLE IN THE OPPOSITE TREE
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THE MOURNING DOVE
(Zenaidura macroura)
F the thirteen species of the family
() Columbide found in North America
the mourning dove is much the most
common and widely distributed. In its deli-
cate brown coloring, graceful body, and taper-
ing tail it resembles its larger relative, the now
extinct passenger pigeon. Because of its
habit of nesting in isolated pairs, as well as its
natural wariness, it is able to survive and flour-
ish in populated regions where well protected,
often nesting within town limits. In winter
it is more gregarious, gathering in small flocks
and frequently feeding around farm houses.
Its low mournful cooing lends enchantment
to the woods at evening.
In its selection of nesting sites, the doves
53
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
pick out odd and various places, sometimes
choosing the hollow top of a broken tree, some-
times a limb (rarely higher than twenty feet),
or again a low bush; still again it may build
in a brush heap, or on a leaning log, where
there is sufficient support. On the log shown
in the photograph, a loose piece of bark pro-
vided a hold for the scanty framework of the
nest. At best, the nest is a slight affair which
does not hold together much longer than is
necessary. ‘The two white eggs, producing
male and female, are laid one on the second
day following the first, and hatch in fourteen
days. Both birds take turns at incubating,
the female sitting at night, the male in the
daytime. The young thrust their bills, often
both at a time, into that of the parent, which
feeds them by regurgitating the food con-
tained in its crop.
Because of its shyness, the mourning dove
is very difficult to photograph. It generally
54
THE SWALLOWS
MINUTES. FROM
ONE MAY JUDGE
CONSUME
RETURNLO AT INTERVALS OF FIVE
THE BILL FULL OF
WHAT A QUANTITY
OR TEN
INSECTS SHOWN HERE
OF INSECTS THE
YOUNG
THE OPEN BEAK OF A YOUNG SWALLOW BEGGING FOR
FOOD MAY BE SEEN WITHIN THE HOLE
Teo
se
The Mourning Dove
deserts its eggs if one disturbs the surround-
ings in the least, remains long, or returns
often. After the young are hatched, however,
it is much less apt to desert, although in the
writer’s experience a dove will never return to
its nest while a camera is near by.
Many previous attempts to photograph
these birds failed before the pictures here
shown were obtained. In this case, I moved
toward the nest very gradually, with camera
ready, placing it down at frequent intervals,
and acting all the while as unostentatiously
and unconcerned as possible. Despairing of
getting closer I made the first exposure at
about fifteen feet, then another at eight, and
finally one at four feet. Before the last ex-
posure I was forced to stand motionless behind
the camera for half an hour, waiting for the sun
to shine full on the bird, and the process of
working up took, altogether, perhaps two
hours. So slowly had I approached that the
55
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
dove seemed hardly conscious of my presence.
A similar attempt at the same nest the previ-
ous morning proved a failure, and it was only
by going at the task in a most leisurely way
that I was finally successful.
El Pe sitll
rv <y : a
ot
THE NEST HOLE WAS ENLARGED AND THE YOUNG REMOVED IN ORDER
TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM, A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THEY WOULD OTHERWISE
HAVE LEFT. ONE OF THE YOUNG ESCAPED AND THE REMAINING TWO
CAUSED THE PHOTOGRAPHER CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY BY REFUSING
TO REMAIN ON THE PERCH
A BACK VIEW
Be ee
‘
i
THE GREAT HORNED OWL
(Bubo virginianus)
FEW pieces of down and some
A feathers first drew my attention, and
when a short search presently revealed
more feathers caught in the ragged edges of
a broken-off old oak tree, my expectations
quickly mounted. I forthwith aimed a few
handy sticks at the broken tree top, and at
the second throw with startling suddenness,
the huge form and spreading wings of a great
horned owl emerged. Poising a moment,
threateningly, it then swerved up and away,
disappearing in the woods.
Thrilling with the discovery of the old owl’s
nest, I accomplished the twenty-five foot climb
in feverish haste, a final swing landing me in
a crotch looking down into the hollow top of
57
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
the tree. From the twenty-inch cavity below,
two young owls, fluffy white balls about
twelve days old, gazed back in startled amaze-
ment. They had plainly been well fed, for in
a circle around them were strewn the remains
of five birds, a ground squirrel and part of a
rabbit, the birds including a robin, two yellow-
bellied sapsuckers, and two flickers. Surely, —
here was food sufficient at one time, even for
hungry young owls. On my numerous visits
to the nest during the three following weeks,
there was always a surprise in the variety of
new prey these ravenous birds had brought —
home. Song birds, rails, herons, rodents, etc.,
in variety were found, usually with the heads
eaten off. One long-eared owl was also found,
a testimony of cannibalistic habits.
Covered with white down, and their eyes
closed, with head, beak and talons much out
of proportion to the body, newly hatched owls
are grotesque objects. They are fed at short
58
fe
Ms i
y bats
a
a
E NEST
ANING TH
SWALLOW CI,
THREE YOUNG TREE SWALLOWS, AND AN ADULT FLYING. AFTER LEAV-
ING THE NEST THEY ARE FED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE PARENTS DO
NOT ALIGHT, BARELY PAUSING IN THEIR FLIGHT AS THEY DELIVER THE
FOOD
fal A:
rk en he
aettahas
it Dee Y
Ns. iF!
as
c4
The Great Horned Owl
intervals, small bits, from the carcasses at
hand, including the feathers, entrails and all.
On this diet the young birds grow rapidly, at-
taining at an age of four weeks almost adult
size, although not yet fully feathered. They
are soon encouraged to help themselves from
the food available, and their legs, at first very
weak, gain strength enough to support them.
While one of the parents is attending to
household duties, the other is foraging for
more game. In the dead of night, noiselessly,
like a ghost it sweeps along through the trees,
mercilessly picking its sleeping victims from
their sheltered roosts.
That these owls are savage birds may be
learned by experience. With a wing spread
of between four and five feet, large and power-
' ful, dauntless in courage, they prove danger-
ous antagonists for the intruder who meddles
in their home affairs.
During some time that I spent up in the tree
59
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
photographing the young, the old owls hooted
their chagrin and anger from near by. Grow-
ing quickly bolder, they presently flew into
trees closer at hand to observe what was going
on at their nest, sometimes perching low down,
sometimes in the very tiptop of the neighbor-
ing pines. Their long doleful hooting, inter-
spersed with subdued cries or an occasional
grunt, was accompanied by the ruffling of
their feathers and the snapping of beaks, for
this is their way of showing anger. When
hooting they looked straight ahead, apparently
giving their entire attention to the operation,
and their white chin patches seemed to expand,
presenting a very peculiar appearance.
I was placing my subjects for a last picture,
when suddenly prompted to look up, I beheld
one of the old birds only a few yards off sail-
ing directly toward me. But instead of at-
tacking me as it probably first intended, it
alighted on a limb within a distance of six feet.
60
a
j
ie]
bl
i
i
t
i
i" ,
1 4
Se a s
re
Me
+
4 ie
hi
I
i
Wy
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;
j j 1
‘'»
'
} '
w i
a ‘a | <_
Han J ' i iy ;
* a i a J i
’ - 4 7 Mae
\)
ie | a)
iy ve rea se iy ite i! , : ay
ti bt: ah eRe i a “*
MOURNING DOVE ON NEST ON A SLOPING LOG. THE JAGGED PIECE OF
BARK AFFORDS SUFFICIENT HOLD FOR THE NEST
ANING
THE SHOOTS AT THE BASE OF A LE
NEST IN
’
MOURNING DOVES
TREE
eT
ee acl |
The Great Horned Owl
There it perched, almost within arm’s reach,
long ears erect, the powerful talons of its stout,
feathered legs gripping and contracting with
readiness for action, the large, relentless eyes
fixing me with deadly intentness. The camera
was unfortunately tied in place for photo-
graphing the nest, and as it was thus out of
commission for the occasion I had to sit astride
a limb, content to observe and wait. A hostile
move toward the young would have invited
vengeance, but no further provocation being
offered, the bird presently glided away.
This close introduction apparently lessening
the awe in which it had held its visitor, it now
perched still nearer and was presently joined
by its mate, both sitting statue-like side by
side only a few yards away. Having obtained
satisfactory photographs, I was now ready to
descend. I was about half way down when
something struck me a blow just behind the
right ear, nearly breaking my grip. I was so
61
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
dazed by the stunning force of the blow that
it was a moment before I could realize what
had hit me. Hardly had I recovered my hold,
when another similar blow caught me on the
left cheek, leaving a good-sized gash beneath
the eye, and when I finally reached terra firma
I was in a very cut-up and bleeding condition.
A visit to the nest the following day found
the owls on hand anticipating trouble, and per-
ceptibly more ready for a duel after the previ-
ous encounter. On the other hand, I also was
on the alert, prepared to protect myself
against emergency. Climbing to and from
the nest proved most hazardous, as the owls
seemed to fully realize my awkward position,
and therefore took this act to be the signal for
attack. During my short observation of the
nest, the birds hooted and snapped loudly, and
as I started down one of them launched out
for me. In a long swift swoop on horizontal
pinions, it came on down, the great yellow eyes
62
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W ae 7 ; , 4 ny 4 ; ’ , Fs
eae ny eter! Abt en inal Moe
a Mi lh vi , f » Sea" “4 ET a
5 « & or ; : *, i, 7] rm ;
i ae ‘ | ton S ;
] af ‘n} "eh fa ie Ne Oy ei “- 7m v, 4 i j A @ ; Py ’
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Piao) Ta) aes, ees :
ms ee Sy lias ik Me led ke 0 Se
ad i eet Peyreres ~
i a one ae : yy ;
nT ed ran a. ; : ‘
cm
THE YOUNG MOURNING DOVE SHOWS LESS DISTINCT SPOTS ON THE WING
THE GREAT HORNED OWL LEAVING ITS NEST IN THE HOLLOW TOP OF AN
OAK
if p
wes
°
SO ced, $45
The Great Horned Owl
holding me with a sinister intensity, ominous
of impending impact. The next instant, hug-
ging close to the tree, I swung up an arm as
if to strike, simultaneously ducking. Checked
by this feint the owl passed, missing its
aim by a few inches, and before its mate could
follow up the opportunity, I slipped to the
ground. Quick action was necessary, for as
one bird came from one direction, the other
would follow up the attack closely from the
opposite side.
The blow, in every case aimed at the head,
caused a curious, numbing sensation; the bird
seemed to strike in full collision, yet at the
same time to pass. While the main force of
the stroke came, apparently, from the beak,
the claws left their deep, unmistakable fur-
rows in the flesh. It was indeed necessary
to keep an unremitting watch when in proxim-
ity to the nest, as the least laxity of vigilance
was sure to result unpleasantly. The owls’
63
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
eyesight, contrary to popular opinion, is suffi-
ciently keen even in bright sunlight, and the
sagacity with which the birds would time and
consummate their attacks merits admiration.
One other incident of the day was of par-
ticular interest. One of the owls was perched
in the tiptop of a pine watching me jealously
as I handled the young. Suddenly a body
shot downward out of the sky, swerving past
the owl’s head at such terrific velocity as to
produce a sound like a small clap of thunder.
It was an uneasy glance the wise old bird cast
upward, as it apprehended the swoop of the
cooper hawk just in time to prevent being
struck. The hawk evidently had perceived
the owl’s unwonted preoccupation, and had
been tempted to startle it, probably an unusual
occurrence in the life of these birds.
64
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ORS EE AM
Lh re (abn es Y heal?
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THE YOUNG OWLS ABOUT TEN DAYS OLD, SHOWING THE NEST STREWN
WITH A VARIETY OF GAME
YOUNG HORNED OWLS ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD, STILL IN THE DOWNY
STAGE
A KINGBIRD FAMILY
(T'yrannus tyrannus)
INGBIRDS, members of the fly-
K catcher family, are truly kings among
birds, for they will fearlessly attack
anything on the wing that happens along, and
may be counted on to come out the better. It
must be said that they will also occasionally
pounce upon smaller birds, striking them to the
ground, though only rarely and when espe-
cially provoked. Kingbirds lay their eggs
late in the season, the young often not leaving
the nest before the middle of August when
the insects that form their diet are most plenti-
ful. At this period large grasshoppers,
dragon flies, etc., often still alive, are pushed
whole into the gaping beaks of the hungry
youngsters. In securing their food, these
65
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
birds simply have to wait, for the most part on
their observation perches, from which they
dart out at short intervals for the insects that
float by in the air. They seldom stray far
from the nest, therefore, and are always on
hand to question any intruder.
While the writer was photographing a fam-
ily of these birds, they would repeatedly dart
down past his head, giving resounding snaps
with their beaks. Their graceful and dexter-
ous sallies after insects furnished a sight worth
seeing. They would suddenly dart out in a
long curve, and a loud snap of the beak, sig-
nifying the capture of an insect, would be fol-
lowed by a continuous glide on and up to an-
other perch; or perhaps turning a complete
somersault they would return to their original
station. Long dashes of fifty yards or more
were frequent, and rarely did the luckless insect
escape. Sometimes in pursuing a fugitive fly
they performed several rapid revolutions with-
66
cae Nee — Se
AT THE AGE OF THREE WEEKS THE YOUNG OWLS ARE MORE LIVELY AND
RESENT INTRUSION BY HISSING AND PUFFING OUT THEIR FEATHERS
AFTER THEY ARE FOUR WEEKS OLD THE YOUNG OWLS FEATHER OUT
RAPIDLY
A Kingbird Family
in the radius of a foot. Hours quickly passed,
indeed, while one was engrossed in watching
the aerial manceuvres of these expert flyers.
The old birds repeatedly tried to entice their
offspring away from the perch on which they
were placed for photographing. With a
choice morsel in its beak, the parent would
hover just behind the young, approaching and
retreating in its efforts to coax its progeny to
a safer location; and without dropping the
morsel from its beak it argued and called per-
sistently. In this endeavor, it was frequently
successful to the annoyance of the photo-
grapher, whose patience and _ perseverance
were otherwise sufficiently tried.
To secure bird pictures, the naturalist often
must spend many tedious hours in gaining the
confidence of his subjects, but once they begin
to overcome their original shyness it becomes
a question of dexterity in snapping the re-
quired poses. These preliminary hours of pa-
67
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
tience should be profitably employed in study-
ing the characteristics of the species, for with-
out knowing the birds, one can not hope to
have his pictures tell accurately a part of their
life history. Lying concealed in the tall grass
about thirty feet distant, the writer was able to
make many interesting observations, the cam-
era eventually verifying many of them in an
invaluable way.
It was several days before really satisfac-
tory pictures of this kingbird family were ob-
tained, but gradually the birds became accus-
tomed to the camera, until the writer was able
(by means of a thread) to snap as many pic-
tures as he desired. Yet the birds continued .
to regard the camera with distrust, and never
failed to greet the appearance of the visitor
with clamorous demonstrations suggestive of
anything but welcome.
68
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-
DRAGON FLIES, LARGE GRASSHOPPERS, ETC., OFTEN STILL ALIVE, ARE
THRUST WHOLE WELL DOWN THE THROATS OF THE HUNGRY YOUNG
KINGBIRDS
KINGBIRD FEEDING YOUNG. NOTE THE HORIZONTAL POSITION OF THE
BIRDS.
THE HEAD OF THE ADULT IS TURNED AT AN ANGLE AT WHICH
IT CAN MOST EASILY THRUST THE FOOD DOWN THE THROAT OF THE
YOUNG
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a id 4
NOTES FROM THE INDIANA SAND
DUNES
T was the latter part of February, and
[° sun was near setting, when a deluge
of snow flakes sent me crawling into my
“pup” tent. Tucked under blankets a-plenty,
I was soon dozing off into the Happy Hunt-
ing Grounds of the ornithologist, for I was
now encamped on the southern shore of Lake
Michigan, for the purpose of studying the bird
life of this region.
The extended tract of sandy hills bordering
the lake, with their plentiful growth of decidu-
ous and coniferous trees, is a stopping-off
place for many migrating birds. Always the
forerunners of spring, the geese arrived late
in February, and remained for several weeks,
flying inland at night and out into the lake in
69
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
the day. Flocks might be seen at almost any
time floating a few yards off shore. On
March 2nd, crows appeared in large numbers
flying eastward along the lake front, and in a
somewhat fluctuating stream they continued
to fly by day after day, chiefly in the morning,
for the rest of the month. The migratory
movement seemed to be about over by April
Ist. Some winter resident crows had a favor-
ite perch in the rear of my camp, which they
occupied at frequent intervals with an eye to
seconding a pair of friendly red squirrels in a
camp raid. This afforded me an unusual op-
portunity of meditating on the profundity of
the crow language, particularly in the very
early morning. The caw note alone is ency-
clopedic in expressiveness, but there are count-
less other distinct sounds, endless subtle under-
tones and accentuations included in the crow’s
dialect.
One morning I walked around to a broken-
70
ner i!
ie Ws dare ©
eg eca Nite
;
ii a: eM
THE PARENT KINGBIRD THRUSTS THE FOOD DOWN FORCEFULLY TO IN-
SURE AGAINST ITS BEING DROPPED
AFTER FEEDING THE YOUNG, THE PARENT KINGBIRD CAREFULLY WIPES
ITS BEAK
Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
off oak, which had been occupied two seasons
before by a pair of great horned owls, and to
my delight found its hollow top again in use,
possibly by the same pair of birds. For these
owls (which may remain paired for life) often
frequent a chosen locality for many years.
The nest, containing on the present occasion
two soiled white eggs, was lined with snow.
Just about the time the first bluebirds’ notes
herald the approach of spring, young horned
owls are hatching. The other night a horned
owl began hooting no farther away than ten
yards. Very soft it was, yet laden with the
tragedy of countless lives that had called forth
from the veiling darkness of night, as they
awoke to find themselves in the monster’s
clutch. I listened to the hooting repeated
every few seconds, and between each hoot the
sobbing gasp of some small creature nearing
its end, those talons sinking deeper into the
victim’s flesh in every interval, pressing forth
71
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
another gasp, at last, a choking cry. The
amazing range of noises which these owls are
capable of emitting is not generally known.
On rare occasions, when my presence near
their nest has aroused their ire, I have been
treated to a recital of variations in hooting,
grunting, and muffled mutterings, punctuated
by a frequent snapping of beaks, which com-
bined to produce an effect altogether startling
and gruesome,—far beyond description.
March 2nd, I also heard the first bluebirds’
notes conveying their authoritative message on
the south winds. In small groups or pairs
they passed during the following days, flutter-
ing high in the air, when they struck the lake,
as if getting their bearings, and then generally
turning westward as they proceeded on their
journey. They were still passing during the
early days of May, but at this late date were
probably simply wandering over the general
section in which they intended to settle. With-
72
KINGBIRD READY TO LEAVE
EVIDENCE OF THEIR DOWNY STAGE REMAINS SOME TIME AFTER THE
YOUNG KINGBIRDS ARE WELL FEATHERED
ee
ae -
Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
in a few days meadow larks were heard, then
killdeer, and finally one morning I was awak-
ened by the familiar chirps of robins. Once,
when I was returning to camp with firewood,
I surprised a gray fox trotting directly toward
me. He disappeared fleetly over the knoll he
had just passed, but a party of crows, which
took the matter up, told me very plainly that
he was making a detour along the side of the
next large dune, and probably observing me
the while.
It was maple sugar time, for the sapsuckers
had been at work on every hand. Small holes
a quarter of an inch in diameter and of about
equal depth were drilled in rings encircling the
trees or scattered irregularly from the roots
upward. Presently I discovered the “sap-
bird” going the rounds of his grove, gathering
the sap and also the insects which had collected.
Within a few weeks a bright vermillion mold
formed where the sap had streamed down the
73
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
trunks, and the trees looked as if they had been
daubed with red paint. As I was about to
move on a low clucking behind announced the
approach of a ruffed grouse, and I turned my
head slowly to observe him out of the corner
of my eye. He was not alarmed at my mo-
tionless figure, but somewhat disturbed and
curious. He took a few steps forward, while
his mate some paces behind clucked warningly;
then a few more steps forward, a hasty retreat,
another advance; but finally deciding on the
safe course, he returned over the hill. During
this, the drumming season, grouse are to be
found along streams “budding” in the willow
trees. Slate-colored birds flashed their white
outer tail feathers and followed me through the
woods with their sucking intonations. Some
of them would nest in the dunes, others in the
far northern lands of Labrador and Alaska.
The crows were wasting a lot of time badger-
ing their ancient enemy, for they never do
74
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Ne i: oh ts aS on i Se ee t
A GOOD PORTRAIT OF AN ADULT KINGBIRD
THE CATBIRD IS ONE OF THE FINEST SONGSTERS, RIVALING EVEN THE
MOCKING-BIRD IN THE EXTENT OF ITS REPERTOIRE
Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
overlook an opportunity to rain down retribu-
tion on the heads that doubtless cause them
much anxiety at night. A red-tailed hawk
departed before me from the remains of a cot-
ton-tail, but a pellet convicted Bubo Virgin-
janus.
The morning of April 19th, I set out with
the intention of finding at least a crow’s nest.
A dense growth of pine bordering some
swampy meadows offered promise. Red-
headed woodpeckers, their heads bobbing out
comically from behind sheltering: limbs, ut-
tered their rattling disapproval of my intrud-
ing presence. A junco that lighted on a
chosen tree drew forth the same call. At the
appearance of a marsh hawk, the red-heads re-
peated their challenge, while the junco
dropped into a bush like a stone, and remained
as still until I began to doubt that I was re-
garding an animate object. Presently, a song
from a neighboring thicket brought it back to
75
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
life, and the hush of suspense was dispelled by
a general outburst of carefree song. Surely,
“in Nature danger passes like the shadow of
a fleeting cloud; no sooner is it past than it is
forgotten.” Bluejays have an_ interesting
habit of imitating hawks, which one might sur-
mise arises from a mischievous desire to startle
other birds. As I was picking my way
through the marsh from one dry clump to an-
other, a crow suddenly bursting out vindic-
tively aroused my suspicion. For a moment
before I had seen the wily bird departing
through the timber some distance ahead. Its
present outburst was clearly intended to con-
vey the false impression that it had just dis-
covered me. As wily as the crow, I passed
its nest without an upward glance, but the
crafty bird followed me stealthily for some
distance. A few hundred yards farther on, a
cushion of pine needles under a fine pine of-
fered an invitation to rest. I was slipping
76
Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
off my pack, when something a few yards
overhead drew my attention, and looking up
I discovered a long-eared owl staring down at
me intently. Silently he glided away into the
swamp underbrush. A glance at the ground
strewn with pellets told me this was one of his,
regular perches. My eye fell on a seedy-look-
ing crow’s nest, situated in the top of a half
fallen tree, which on the face of things was
long since abandoned by its original owners.
It did not deserve a second glance, but the
ends of a pair of diverging sticks projecting
above the rim, somehow riveted my attention.
Irresistibly my eye returned again and again
to the leaning tree. Surely such a ramshackle
affair without a leaf to shelter it would not be
selected as an abode by any bird. Still by
tossing up a stick the matter could be easily
settled.
A long-eared owl slipped off and glided
after its mate into the swamp underbrush.
it
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
Exposed to heaven and earth, safe in its very
conspicuousness, the long-eared owl sits aloft
on its eggs, while its mate secluded amid dense
pine bows a few yards off keeps guard. For
there are many sharp eyes in the woods, among
them the ever prying ones of those unendur-
able crows. At any time it may be necessary
to divert and lead elsewhere some inquisitive
visitor; so during the day the mate in the pine
is ever ready in an emergency. I have known
a horned ow] to kill and feed to its young a
long-eared owl, so that the anxiety of a con-
stant watchfulness has to be continued even
at night. Long-eared owls are very beneficial
birds, feeding as they do largely on rodents.
They are rather active during the day, often
being found on the ground hunting mice.
It was one of those supremely calm morn-
ings. Through the mist rising slowly over the
lake came the wild laugh of a loon. Pres-
ently, his form emerged into view; then he
78
A YOUNG WOOD THRUSH JUST AFTER LEAVING THE NEST. THE YOUNG
THRUSH RESEMBLES THE YOUNG ROBIN, TO WHICH IT IS CLOSELY RELATED
Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
sank, without a ripple, without an effort.
Watching carefully, I soon saw his head reap-
pear, then gradually his back, and now again
that wild laugh. Far in the distance, like a faint
echo, an answering call floated back. A
gull near by burst out hilariously. In the calm
of the morning every bird seemed to laugh
forth its call, and I responded inwardly in
perfect accord.
Turning inland I followed a pine-scented
trail to a reedy marsh; red-wings were swing-
ing and singing on the cat-o’-nine-tails; a bit-
tern pumped; in the distance a marsh-hawk
sailed low over the meadows, circling, criss-
crossing, its white rump flashing in the sun.
It repeated frequently its low cry (not so
forceful as that of the red-shouldered hawk),
and occasionally a low chucking call. Sud-
denly, it dropped into the tall grass after a
lizard, frog, snake, or mouse, which constitute
its staple food. It also occasionally captures
79
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
birds, even rabbits, but altogether does much
more good than harm. As it was now June,
somewhere in or about the marsh in a dry tuft
of grass, which was merely matted down to
form a nest, the mate of the hawk observed
was sitting on her usual complement of four
to six bluish eggs.
Red-headed woodpeckers are plentiful in
the dunes the year round, their numbers being
augmented in the fall, when they congregate
here to feed on the abundant crop of acorns.
Their low-pitched resonant “querl” rings out
to an accompaniment of rapping, and their
frolicking manceuvres give a lively tone to the
landscape. Dropping into an oak top, one
will hang upside down onto a sagging bough,
while securing an acorn, which it takes to a
neighboring stump, wedges into the bark, and
then pecks at leisure. While thus engaged,
it squeals persistently, as if challenging others
to pursue it, and this they eagerly do, the pur-
~ 80
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WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW SETTLING ON NEST
WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW ENTERING NEST
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Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes
sued circling back through the midst of its
pursuers, if they show any signs of lagging. I
have seen them clash and fall to the ground in
a rather serious encounter. The adults with
their bright red heads seem just as youthful
in spirits as the brown-headed young, and alto-
gether they are the most jolly lot of play-
fellows imaginable. A marsh-hawk sailing in
among them evidently causes little apprehen-
sion; they dodge at a pinch, but the hawk is
not out of sight before they are as noisy as
ever.
81
PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS
7 qo be successful in photographing
birds, the first requirement is a love
for birds. In addition some photo-
graphic ability and considerable patience are
needed. A plate camera, the Premo No. 9,
was used in securing most of the accompany-
ing photographs. For some phases of the
work a reflex camera is of great advantage.
The photographer proceeds in the taking of
his bird pictures largely according to the par-
ticular circumstances which confront him. He
may set out to get the game on the nest, at
the feeding ground, resting on a bough, or
flying. Generally, the easiest photograph is
obtained at the nest. Begin with the nests
near the ground, where the tripod can be used.
Set the camera up within three or four feet
of the nest, preferably just before the time for
82
NEST OF LEAST FLYCATCHER. A LARGE AMOUNT OF PAPER IS
WOVEN INTO IT
ee lay
isk - Ate amy &
SOT tee
ova ‘ca ty me 1) ;
LEAST FLYCATCHER SHOWING THE FEATHERS ON THE HEAD ELE-
VATED IN THE FORM OF A CREST
LEAST FLYCATCHER AT NEST. IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH THE BIRD
APPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE OF A CREST
Es OS ee a ee ee
i ty ae ee
YOUNG MARSH HAWKS
Photographing Birds
the eggs to hatch. If, as most often happens,
the old bird is frightened away from the nest
during the process, a thread is attached so that
the picture may be snapped from a distance
of twenty or thirty feet or more. A few
leaves placed so as to conceal the camera as
much as possible may be necessary, when the
birds are timid. The camera all set, the next
thing is to find concealment in tall grass or
behind a bush, from where the nest may be
viewed and the thread pulled. The old bird
is very reluctant to leave the eggs exposed
during the period of a few days preceding the
hatching, and at this crucial time will seldom
cause one to wait long before she overcomes
her fear and returns. The various poses of
the bird as it alights at the nest, inspects the
eggs, and, finally, tucking them skillfully
under her, settles down to brood, offer oppor-
tunities for a series of photographs, valuable
both from artistic and scientific standpoints.
83
Familiar Studies of Wild Birds
The different degrees of timidness in species,
as well as among individual birds draw on all
the ingenuity one may have. ‘There are cer-
tain localities that offer abundant possibilities
in the bird field of photography. A lake with
a reedy marsh adjoining furnishes the most
excellent grounds for water birds, which are
found nesting in such places in surprising
numbers. Many of these species construct a
floating nest of sticks and other débris, or
place their nest on small clumps of earth.
Others build in the rushes. Various species of
blackbirds, rail, coot, bittern, the black tern,
and others of the water fowl, may be found in
early spring in domestic occupations within a
short radius. The reflex camera can be used
here with most swecess, and in catching the
birds on the wing they are indispensable.
Bird pictures may also be taken successfully
with a telephoto lens. Where it is possible,
however, to get within close range, the results
84
THRASHER WHOSE ANXIETY FOR HER YOUNG FAMILY HAS OVER-
A BROWN
ESS
NATURAL SHYN
COME HER
THE MAGPIE
IS A SCAVENGER AND GATHERS IN LARGE NUMBERS TO FEED
AROUND SMALL SLAUGHTER-HOUSES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WEST.
IT IS ABUNDANT IN THE LARGER VALLEYS OF UTAH, BEING
MORE SPARINGLY IN THE FOOTHILLS
SCATTERED
Photographing Birds
are generally more satisfactory, as there are
numerous difficulties attending the hunting of
birds with a telephoto outfit.
When the young are hatched, making pic-
tures of various phases of their bringing up,
the feeding, etc., is the most interesting of
pastimes. An amount of patience and skill
may be required to secure pictures with the
birds in natural attitudes and free from alarm.
By working with one nest day after day, and
following up developments, gradually getting
the birds accustomed to the camera, friendly
relations, with profitable results to the photog-
rapher, may be established.
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